Crime often pays. 是否ambiguous?

The meaning of the expression "Crime often pays" is exactly the opposite of the answer 001 by no3lunch( 中學級 1 級 ).

"Something pays" means "gives a good return" while "doesn't pay" means "causes you grief" or "brings suffering".

There is no ambiguity in this expression.

2012-07-17 14:25:33 補充：
Cheating pays = It pays to cheat. = Cheating brings you good.

Cheating doesn't pay = It does not pay to cheat. = Cheating hurts you in the end.

Crime often pays 有啲似我地講嘅「殺人放火金腰帶」，答案2是對的。

Crime often pays, unfortunately.
忽略了unfortunately就很容易解了相反的意思。
祇有garlic2010清楚說出原意。

Crime often pays. 有好報 (有利)

You'll pay for committing crime. 受到懲罰

2012-07-17 16:10:00 補充：
You'll pay for committing crimes. (to suffer or be punished)

咁咪同本地俗語相近︰出得嚟行，預咗要還‥呢句說話非本地人未必明白，等如你唔明白你句英文一樣，其實係好簡單嘅因果報應諺語。